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Welcome to the latest edition of the PGA DFS Hole-By-Hole Breakdown, where Josh Bennett (@JishSwish) breaks down the course the PGA Tour is playing each week. We think this course breakdown is an important slice of the "PGA DFS pie" and will help change the way you do your research for every tournament. A good understanding of the course that's being played is extremely important before diving into individual players. Each week, this article will give you everything you need to know about the course, strategies players could take, and statistics that fit the specifics of the layout.
This week's Breakdown features Augusta National Golf Club, host of the Masters Tournament. As we have learned throughout the history of this tournament, Driving distance and iron play are the key advantages at Augusta, and clearly shown in the images below. Be sure to also read all of our other top-notch weekly PGA DFS and betting articles to help you win big!
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Augusta National Golf Club: Par 72, 7545 Yards
Hole 1 (Tea Olive): Par 4, 445 Yards
Off the Tee: The first tee shot is a tough one. Trees line both sides and are in play on bad shots. In addition, a good shot for most of the field will still have a chance to find the bunker that basically cuts the fairway in half. Some may choose to lay up off this tee, especially it being the first shot of the Masters. Keeping it between the trees is the most important part.
Approach: A short iron for most of the field or possibly a wedge. From the fairway, it is a pretty easy approach. Obviously, less easy from the bunker or behind the trees. The green is good sized and only has one bunker on the left side that shouldn't be in play with this short of an approach. As long as they have a clear line to the green they'll have a decent scoring chance. If they happen to find the fairway, it will be a very good scoring chance. Green Size: 25x30 yards
Advantage: Ball-Striking, SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring
Hole 2 (Pink Dogwood): Par 5, 575 Yards
Off The Tee: This tee shot is not too difficult. It's wide open, the fairway is wide, and there is not much in the way. Longer hitters will have to worry about the bunker on the right side, but otherwise the goal is to get it down the fairway as far as possible for the best possible chance to get to the green.
Approach: A long approach for most of the field to a green that is mostly protected on the front, so it will be hard to roll fairway woods and long irons up to the green. The area is wide open, however, so there's no need to lay up. They'll just hit it down there as far as possible. Short games will be on display on this hole, and those with good ones will have great birdie chances. Green Size: 30x20 yards
Advantage: Driving Distance, SG: Around The Green, Par 5 Scoring
Hole 3 (Flowering Peach): Par 4, 350 Yards
Off The Tee: An easy tee shot for everyone here. Shorter hitters will have to error a little right, but it shouldn't matter. Hit it as far as possible, it's wide open.
Approach: A very short approach for everyone (some may even find themselves on the green). Great wedge players will have very easy birdie looks, but it should be a scoring chance for everyone no matter what here. Green Size: 25x20 yards
Advantage: Driving Distance, SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring
Hole 4 (Flowering Crab Apple): Par 3, 240 Yards
Approach: The longest and likely most difficult par 3 they will play, although others will get more credit for being difficult down the stretch. The length makes this one difficult as-is, but it is protected well too. The green is shaped so it will be hard to hold, and misses to the front or left of the green will find bunkers. Knowing where to miss on this hole will be key, as will short game play coming back onto the green. Par is a good score here. Green Size: 35x25 Yards
Advantage: GIR, Scrambling, Bogey Avoidance
Hole 5 (Magnolia): Par 4, 495 Yards
Off The Tee: Although there are no tree issues on this hole, they make up the difficulty by cutting the fairway in half with bunkers. They will likely be in play for everyone off the tee, whether that's by rolling it in or flying it in. However, they only take up about half of a normal player's dispersion, so there's also plenty of room to keep it in the fairway as well. Being in the fairway is key here because of the length of the approach. Being in the bunker pretty much guarantees par or worse, but being in the fairway will give a chance for a shot at birdie.
Approach: A mid-to-long length approach to a huge green that's really not protected. From the fairway, hitting the green should be no problem. If the ball is coming from the bunker, there's still a good chance to get it on the green but it will have to be well struck from that distance. This hole will be mostly about how well they can putt (avoid 3 putts, mostly) Green Size: 35x25 Yards
Advantage: Ball-Striking, GIR, Bogey Avoidance, 3 Putt Avoidance
Hole 6 (Juniper): Par 3, 180 Yards
Approach: This approach will require a well struck ball to make sure they can get it over the bunker that covers the front of the green. From there, it is not a difficult play. The mid-iron approach will mean some longer putts, but finding the green won't be an issue. Avoiding 3 putts is they key here. Green Size: 25x20 Yards
Advantage: SG: Approach, GIR, 3 Putt Avoidance
Hole 7 (Pampas): Par 4, 450 Yards
Off The Tee: This is a tough driving hole because of how narrow the fairway is, but it will be tough for everyone, which means the longer they can hit it, the better. If they have a "fairway finder" swing, this is the one they'll need it on. Being in the trees takes birdie out of play for sure, but the approach does not get much easier either, so even a great drive doesn't mean a ton quite yet.
Approach: The green is not deep on this hole and is covered by bunkers on all sides. Distance control has to be near perfect to keep it on the green, and that's assuming the drive was not stuck behind trees. Long hitters with a look at the green will have a much better chance at keeping it on the green with shorter clubs, which is part of the reason it was noted as an advantage above. Par will be a good score on this hole, but birdies can be had by players with wedges into the green. Green Size: 35x15 Yards
Advantage: Driving Distance, Ball-Striking, SG: Approach, Bogey Avoidance, Scrambling
Hole 8 (Yellow Jasmine): Par 5, 570 Yards
Off The Tee: Another tee shot with a wide open space, but is made difficult by a fairway bunker cutting off most of the fairway. In addition, being to the left of the fairway bunker will require a left-to-right shot shape with a fairway wood or very long iron, so the difficulty is still there even if the fairway is found. This is a three shot hole for most of the field for those reasons. After the tee shot, they'll just have to knock it down there as far as they can and use their short wedge skills to get it close and score.
Approach: For most of the field, they'll just be playing wedges into this green. It's small, but with wedges it won't matter. Emphasis on short game is key for this hole. Green Size: 15x40 Yards
Advantage: Driving Distance, SG: Approach, SG: Around The Green, Par 5 Scoring
Hole 9 (Carolina Cherry): Par 4, 460 Yards
Off The Tee: This is a narrow landing area for shorter hitters, but is a much easier shot for longer hitters that might be more wild because things start to open up right around 280 yards. Length will be important on this tee shot too as you look ahead to the size of the green.
Approach: A short or mid-iron for most to a narrow green, only protected by bunkers on the left side. It is a much easier approach the closer they can get because there is less worry about dispersion from side-to-side. The hole will likely play around even par because of shorter hitters having higher difficulty to hit the green, but it is scoreable from long hitters with short irons or even wedges. Green Size: 15x35 Yards
Advantage: Driving Distance, SG: Approach, Scrambling, Par 4 Scoring
Hole 10 (Camellia): Par 4, 495 Yards
Off The Tee: There is not much to say about the tee shot leading off the back half of the course. The fairway is huge and it's wide open. Hit it as far as possible and get ready for a much more difficult second shot.
Approach: The approach is a lot more difficult than the tee shot. It's long and has to avoid a bunker that is in the way on the front-right side. Holding the green will likely be difficult, and even if they do, there will be some long putts. Around the green game will be important here to make sure to keep bogey off the card. Green Size: 20x30 Yards
Advantage: Driving Distance, GIR, Bogey Avoidance
Hole 11 (White Dogwood): Par 4, 520 Yards
Off The Tee: The drive on the 11th will be difficult for most of the field. Unlike many holes around Augusta, accuracy will be important on this hole to ensure at least a chance at par. A miss to either side in the trees brings bogey heavily into play. They also extended this hole for 2022 an extra 15 yards, and as seen in this picture the fairway is narrower going farther back, increasing the difficulty and the need for accuracy.
Approach: Water finally comes into play starting on the 11th hole. It protects the front or left side of the green depending on how you look at it (or the direction they're approaching from). A bunker is on the opposite side of the water, but it should be less of a worry than the water. The approach is long, and they should be happy with anything that finds the green, although scrambling around the green will be much more likely. Par is a great score on this hole. Green Size: 20x40 Yards
Advantage: Ball-Striking, Scrambling
Hole 12 (Golden Bell): Par 3, 155 Yards
Approach: The yardage makes it seem like this hole would not be hard, but the design of the hole makes up for the length. The green is 10 yards deep or so, which requires precision with distance control. If they miss short and are lucky, they'll find the bunker, but most likely it rolls back into the water. A miss long is okay, but then have to worry about a great bunker shot that doesn't go long and roll into the water. Even though the hole is short, being aggressive on the hole should be avoided. Getting it on the green with a chance to get par is plenty good. Green Size: 10x35 Yards
Advantage: SG: Approach, GIR, Bogey Avoidance
Hole 13 (Azalea): Par 5, 545 Yards
Off The Tee: The yardage on this hole is short for a par 5, but the tee shot is difficult and makes it a hard par 5. The tee shot has to be absolutely perfect down a narrow pathway for most of the field in order to have a short approach into the green for PGA Tour par 5 standards. Very long hitters can be rewarded here by being able to cut the corner and take out many issues that the rest of the field will have to face.
Approach: As long as the drive is hit well and not behind trees, the green is reachable by everyone. Water runs across the front of the green, and anything short of the green will catch it. Anything long will be in one of the bunkers. It's more safe to go long, but they must have good bunker play if they want a chance to score on the hole. If they do not trust their short games, we may see some decide to lay up short of the water and play wedges into the green and take all those other issues out of play. Green Size: 20x35 Yards
Advantage: Driving Distance, Ball-Striking, SG: Around The Green, Par 5 Scoring
Hole 14 (Chinese Fir): Par 4, 440 Yards
Off The Tee: This should not be a difficult tee shot. There is plenty of room between the trees, and the fairway is also pretty wide. Just bomb it down the fairway and see what's left.
Approach: The green is huge and has no protection. The approach will be short, and will be with wedges for some of the field. They can take direct aim at most of the pins. This should be a scoring hole for the whole field. Green Size: 35x35 Yards
Advantage: Driving Distance, SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring
Hole 15 (Firethorn): Par 5, 550 Yards
Off The Tee: The landing area is wide open on this hole, so it may be perceived as easy, but having the tee shot land on the right side of the fairway will be important looking up ahead because anything on the left side will have tree trouble. A good shot on the right side will allow all the whole field to get to the green. Anyone of the left side will be forced to lay up short of the water. They extended this hole 20 yards in 2022, which should entice more people to lay up in front of the water, it will also make the trees on the left less in play because there will be more room to go over.
Approach: A tee shot on the right side of the fairway will allow the whole field to get to the green, most will be able to get there with an iron. Others will be coming into this green with a wedge from short of the water. Eagle is in play if they can get to the green, but birdie is in play for everyone regardless of where their tee shot is. Scoring will be low on this hole, we will see eagles and many birdies. Green Size: 35x20 Yards
Advantage: Ball-Striking, SG: Approach, Par 5 Scoring
Hole 16 (Redbud): Par 3, 170 Yards
Approach: This tee shot has to carry water the entire way to the green, but it is likely only in play on pins toward the front of the green. Bunkers are on the other sides of the greens, but each of them will only be in play when they put pins by them. The green is large and shouldn't be difficult to hit. There should be some scoring on this hole, but avoiding the 3 putt will be most important. Green Size: 20x40 Yards
Advantage: SG: Approach, Par 3 Scoring, 3 Putt Avoidance
Hole 17 (Nandina): Par 4, 440 Yards
Off The Tee: Trees are a problem on this hole. They are in play for everyone on both sides, and being in them will remove any chance at a birdie. However, an accurate tee shot will allow for a short approach and a good birdie chance. Accuracy on this hole is very important.
Approach: Assuming the ball stays between the trees, the approach is short and to a large green. There are bunkers on the front and left, but they are only really in play to those that are punching out between the trees to try and get the ball to the green. It is a good birdie opportunity coming down the stretch if they can find the fairway off the tee, otherwise just saving par should be good. Green Size: 30x20 Yards
Advantage: Driving Accuracy, Ball-Striking, SG: Approach, Par 4 Scoring
Hole 18 (Holly): Par 4, 465 Yards
Off the Tee: Trees are again in play on this hole on both sides, with an added difficulty for some of the longer players having bunkers through the fairway they'll have to avoid. Being accurate is important because of the approach that is ahead, and having a look at the green from the fairway will be a huge advantage. It will likely be the difference between an easy par to finish the round and a scramble to hopefully avoid bogey.
Approach: A mid-iron approach for those that find the fairway off the tee. The green is narrow and is protected by a bunker on the front and the right sides. Since the green is narrow, those bunkers will probably be found often. They'll also be found even more often from those that are punching up to the green from the trees or the fairway bunker. Short game will be they key to the final hole coming down the stretch, and par will be plenty good to close out the round. Green Size: 15x35 Yards
Advantage: Driving Accuracy, SG: Approach, Scrambling
Conclusions
Many holes on the course are wide open, and there are other holes that end up being more challenging if you can't hit the ball a long ways. Driving Distance will be very important this week. Long hitters should have an advantage on almost all of the holes.
Distance alone will not get it done on it's own though. The greens are tricky and most are protected well. They're also large, so being able to hit irons well is important to not only give great scoring chances, but also make sure that the ball stays closer to the hole so there's much smaller chances at 3 putting. Good iron play will likely bring some shorter hitters back into contention with the longer hitters. A huge bonus, of course, if a long hitter is also a great iron player.
Many of the greens are large, and we know that they are overall difficult to putt on. 3 Putt Avoidance will be key to keep bogey (or worse) off the card, but overall good putters should be able to keep themselves in contention as well even if they aren't striking it perfectly. Poor putters will negate any advantage they might otherwise gain from their distance or iron play.
Other stats to consider: Par 5 Scoring, GIR, Ball-Striking, Scrambling, Bogey Avoidance, SG: Around the Green
Assumptions
Images and measurements were done on Google Earth. These satellite images can sometimes be up to five or more years old and not show very recent changes to courses if there were any.
Carry distance is used for off-the-tee distances shown in the images. The average carry distance on tour in 2021 was 281 yards, so that is what is used here.
I used a total dispersion off-the-tee of 60 yards. This comes from an article that Jon Sherman wrote for Practical Golf (@practicalgolf) discussing average dispersion, and I took 5-10 yards off from that number.
I assumed a 10-15 yard roll out from the carry distance to start the measurement to the green. Measurements to the green were rounded to the nearest five yards and measured from the center of the fairway to the center of the green.
Green measurements were also measured to the nearest five yards.
Things like weather, rough length, elevation, etc. are not taken into consideration on the measurements. I can only see and assume so much from satellite images. However, I do note where possible on each hole if things like elevation and wind could impact how the hole plays.
Scorecard:
See Masters app/website for official hole/scorecard data
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